Many things might seem uncommon at first glance, especially when there’s no one in your circle going through the same thing. But members of the ‘Ask Reddit’ community recently revealed that some occurrences or situations are way more common than one might think.
They started a discussion on the topic after one user asked them about such things that are more common than people realize, and in their answers, the netizens covered everything from amicable divorces to professional incompetence, and beyond. Scroll down to find more of their examples on the list below and see what other things might not be as rare as they seem.
#1
Not having any friends when you're older. After you graduate college, especially if you move to a new city for a job, it's hard to maintain friendships. And it's definitely hard to get new friends once you're in the adult world working every day. Many people's only friend is their spouse. And if they aren't married many people just don't have any friends.
151points
#2
Childhood trauma. A lot of us hide it, mask it, or pretend we had normal lives.
PS: Please don't include childhood stuff in team building workplace activities. This stuff is so hard to avoid and uncomfortable, even something like "A picture of you as a child!" or "Favorite childhood memories and goals!" I'd much rather focus on the person I am today, than the vulnerable little body I was many years ago.
PS: Please don't include childhood stuff in team building workplace activities. This stuff is so hard to avoid and uncomfortable, even something like "A picture of you as a child!" or "Favorite childhood memories and goals!" I'd much rather focus on the person I am today, than the vulnerable little body I was many years ago.
134points
#3
living paycheck to paycheck. We are all broke and can’t believe how expensive groceries are
120points
#4
People who don't wash their hands after using the restroom.
104points
#6
Imposter syndrome. No one knows what we are doing. We are all just winging it. Most of us are hoping that asking questions and being nice will get us there.
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85points
#7
Alcoholism. There are many more “functional” alcoholics or recovering than people would guess.
84points
#9
People being ashamed of things they like. Pro wrestling, tabletop games, types of media (anime, reality TV etc.).
People are way more insecure about people getting a peek at their true selves than people realise.
78points
#10
Feeling lonely. Even if you're married/with kids/etc
78points
#11
The number of people being left behind by services going digital. They come into the library where I volunteer to find help, not only do some of them not have email addresses (and most of the ones who do rely on the computer remembering their passwords) a significant number don't even have mobile phones.
73points
#12
Professional incompetence. On all levels, from cashiers at McDonald’s to nuclear scientists.
The difference is in how the organization handles and mitigates failure
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70points
#14
Low self-esteem. I don't know how many times I have seen people not invite, include, or initiate something with someone for fear of rejection or the other person finding them annoying, and then the other person feels rejected from not being included.
A lot of people think they are more annoying or unliked than they actually are.
A lot of people think they are more annoying or unliked than they actually are.
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56points
#15
Hoarding.
People see the TV show and think those are isolated incidents. But ask your local fire and EMS providers, and watch the horror creep across their faces. I've been in houses where you couldn't actually touch the floor, you walked on top of the....debris.... Houses where the door they use is the only door or window in the entire residence that can be opened. Houses where we had to station firefighters every couple feet along the "path" through the mess, and load the patient onto a mega-mover (basically a heavy duty sheet with grab handles on the sides), and pass her person-to-person out the door.
It is WAY more prevalent than you can even imagine.
55points
#17
Credit card debt. 45% of Americans carry a credit card balance from one month to the next.
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51points
#18
There are a lot more very kinky people doing very kinky things than you think. Seriously. Most people just have no idea
48points
#20
People not knowing about whatever the current activism is on social media.
Big example is the Starbucks/ McDonald’s boycott. Everyone online is convinced it’s a huge boycott yet most people in the real world do not know a thing about it. People forget that not everyone is online 24/7 and just because you know about something doesn’t mean others do if they’re not in that same online circle.
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45points